Hay ‘n’ Tray THROWDOWN

This archived article was written by: Hayden Peterson and Travon Langston

This week Travon and I will be discussing four topics about the NBA All-Star Weekend and debating on the best performances from each of the topics throughout the past 20 years. The five topics will be: best All-Star game, best dunk in the dunk contest, best three-point shooting performance, and we will also discuss this year’s participants and those who we feel got left off the teams, but were deserving to be there.

What was the best All-Star game ever?
Travon: For me the best All-Star game was played in 1992 in Orlando, when recent retiree Ervin “Magic” Johnson was voted by fans to come back and play one more time as an All-Star for the Western Conference. Not only did he play against some great friends but also some great rivals in Michael Jordan and Isaiah Thomas. Magic helped the Western All-Stars beat the Eastern All-Stars 153-113. Magic lead the way in the voting for MVP as he had 25 points along with nine assists and five rebounds. Winning the MVP that year gave Magic his first and last MVP award in an All-Star game.
Hayden: I will agree with you that Magic played well that day Tray, but you can’t forget about the basketball game played with the most fans ever watching a game. The game I am talking about was played just three years ago, Arlington Texas, in the Cowboy’s new stadium. The East came out on top by two points 141-139, led by Dwayne Wade who went on to be the MVP as he made two clutch free throws in the last seconds of the game to seal the deal. Wade finished with 28 points, six assists and 11 rebounds. Both were very entertaining games and featured quite a few shooters.

Speaking of shooters, who had the most impressive of memorable three-point performance?
Travon: I would have to say the best shooting performance was when Jason Kapono from the Toronto Raptors caught fire in 2008 and got a score of 25 out of 30. To be able to make that many shots while being timed and in front of such a crowd is amazing.
Hayden: I can’t disagree when you throw out a performance like that, but I would have to go with the shooting display of Glen Rice in 1995. The field that he shot against was quite possibly the greatest field of shooters of all time. Names like Reggie Miller, Steve Kerr, Dan Majerle and Chuck Person filled the ballots with votes. After barely qualifying for the semi’s Rice pulled himself together and he beat out Miller 16 to 15 in the finals to take down the shooting legend.
So Tray who do you think will win the three-point Hayden: I am going to root for Stephen Curry who is streaky, but if he gets hot, he can light it up. Tray we all know that the people usually watch All-Star weekend for the high flyers throwing down!
Hayden: I will start this off Tray, the best dunk of all time has to be one from Vince Carter. I personally think the dunk Carter calls the “Danger 3” which is a complete wind mill and a 360 all in the same hop. He scored a perfect 50 and the dunk has only been mimicked on trampolines since.
Travon: okay, okay I agree Carter is the greatest dunker of all time hands down bar none. But I choose a different dunk, I am taking the first ever “Honey-Dip” as Carter soared high enough to put his entire forearm into the rim and hang there from his elbow. We have to agree this time that Carter is the greatest high flyer of all time.
Who do you feel was left out of the All-Star game this year?
Hayden: I think that Rudy Gay who was recently traded to the Toronto Raptors was definitely playing worthy of a spot on the East squad this year. Gay is producing another great year for his new team and will definitely get his chance in the future.
Travon: Steph Curry, need I say more? I feel that Curry should have been selected in the first place, and then when Rondo went down with injury, he should have definitely been selected as a replacement rather than Brooke Lopez. So those are two people who we together agree deserve a spot on the rosters. I would ask if anybody else wants to see LeBron James in the dunk contest, but I am pretty sure that everybody wants to see that.
Enjoy the All-Star game and the weekend festivities. Cheer for those favorite players of yours and choose your side for Sunday night’s game. As for Travon and I, we are taking Steve Novak in the three-point contest, Gerald Green in the dunk contest and the West in the All-Star game. Travon is taking Kobe Bryant for the MVP, but I am going to take Kevin Durant for a repeat.
Until next week, stay classy Price. Hayden and Travon signing off, Dueces!